Do you remember the famous saying: “Prevention is better than cure”? This old saying is absolutely true for cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer death in women. By the time symptoms develop and women realize they are sick, it is usually too late. While a regular checkup can ensure a cervical cancer-free future, laxity can lead to a physically and emotionally draining experience of fighting it.

According to the Preventable Cervical Cancer Free Coalition, cervical cancer kills more women in India than anywhere else in the world, affecting 1,32,000 women each year, of whom 72,000 lose their lives. battle.

Most common in women over the age of 30, cervical cancer affects the cervix as well as a woman’s reproductive system. The cervix is ​​a passageway that connects the lower portion of a woman’s uterus (womb) with the vagina. Cancer begins in cells, which are the building blocks that make up tissues. Normal cervical cells in the tissues of the cervix grow and divide to form new cells when the body needs them. These cells have a defined life.

When normal cells get old or damaged, they die and new cells take their place. Sometimes this process goes awry and new cells form when the body doesn’t need them, and old or damaged cells don’t die like they should. The accumulation of such extra cells often forms a mass of tissue called a tumor.

Scientists aren’t entirely sure why cells become cancerous. However, there are some risk factors that are known to increase the risk of developing cervical cancer. The human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus, is responsible for about 99% of all cervical cancers. There are more than 100 different types of HPV, most of which are considered low risk and do not cause cervical cancer. High-risk HPV types can cause cervical cell abnormalities or cancer. More than 70 percent of cervical cancer cases can be attributed to two types of the virus, HPV-16 and HPV-18, often referred to as high-risk HPV types.

Other risk factors include multiple sexual partners, becoming sexually active early, smoking, and people with a weakened immune system, such as those with HIV/AIDS or transplant recipients taking immunosuppressive medications. Certain genetic factors, giving birth at a very young age, multiple pregnancies, long-term use of the birth control pill also increase a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer.

Being a silent killer, the symptoms of cervical cancer are not always obvious and it may not cause any symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage, where the chances of survival are lower and treatment is expensive. Regular screening tests are essential to fight this cancer before it spreads.

In most cases, symptoms develop when the cancer becomes invasive and spreads to nearby tissues. When this happens, the most common symptom is abnormal vaginal bleeding or bleeding between periods. Other symptoms include bleeding after intercourse, pain during intercourse, unusual vaginal discharge, pain and swelling in the legs, and lower back pain.

If diagnosed at an early stage, treatment is possible through surgery which is removal of the uterus. Radiation therapy is an alternative to surgery for some. In some cases it is used in conjunction with surgery. More advanced cases of cervical cancer are usually treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Get vaccinated against HPV

Vaccines have been developed to prevent infection with some of the HPV types associated with cervical cancer. Currently available vaccines are intended to produce immunity to HPV types 16 and 18, so that women who are exposed to these viruses do not develop infections.

Reduce risk through regular checkups

PAP test

A Pap smear is a quick, painless test used to detect early cellular changes in the cells of the cervix, which can later develop into cancer. Cells from the cervix are scraped and used as a sample for pathological analysis. A positive result for abnormal cells is confirmed by colonoscopy or biopsy.

simple vinegar test

With this test, called VIA, for visual inspection with acetic acid, sterile diluted vinegar is applied to a cotton swab and brushed over the cervix. After a minute, normal tissue remains the same color, but cancerous tissue turns white. You just need a lamp to see it.